The Minnesota Timberwolves signed Johnny Juzang to a training camp deal earlier in August. Currently, the Wolves have two open roster spots, and it feels likely that Bones Hyland will earn one of them. As a result, Juzang will likely be competing for the Wolves' final roster spot in training camp. However, his knockdown shooting makes him deserving of a roster spot.
Notably, Juzang has shot 38.4 percent from beyond the arc on 4.7 attempts over the past two seasons with the Utah Jazz. Last season, Juzang averaged 19.8 minutes, 8.9 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 1.1 assists on 42.9/37.6/84.9 shooting splits. Over the past two seasons, Juzang has proven to be a rotation-quality player. Even if the 6-foot-7 wing makes the Wolves roster, he likely won't crack their loaded rotation. Regardless, Juzang can be trusted with minutes if need be.
Juzang's shooting gives him a clear role
Shooting is at a premium in the NBA. The Wolves ranked fifth in 3-point makes last season, but adding more shooting is never a bad thing, especially spot-up shooting, which is Juzang's forte.
Having a spot-up shooter in bench lineups next to the likes of Rob Dillingham, Terrence Shannon Jr., Naz Reid, and Donte DiVincenzo would be highly beneficial. Additionally, if Juzang ever has to play with the starters, this skill set would make him an ideal fit next to Anthony Edwards and Julius Randle. Playing off the impressive on-ball gravity of some of the Wolves' top players could take Juzang's game to another level.
Given his blend of shooting and size, it's easy to see how Juzang can fit next in multiple lineups. Juzang is essentially a shooting specialist right now. However, that archetype will always be valuable. Plus, he's shown some on-ball chops, including the ability to attack closeouts, solid ball handling, and some occasional self-creation.
Dating back to his UCLA days, Juzang was a No. 1 option on a Final Four team, where he was a prolific three-level scorer. Notably, Juzang was teammates with Jaylen Clark at UCLA. While the 24-year-old will always be more of an off-ball guy in the NBA, the ability to do more on the ball will always be there.
Signing Hyland makes sense as the Wolves could use another traditional point guard. However, it could be argued that Juzang's path to minutes is clearer, given how his shooting allows him to fit with just about any lineup and how clear his role would be.
Ultimately, Juzang's shooting is too valuable to overlook when the Wolves are assessing their roster. If Juzang doesn't make the main roster, it's worth noting that he still is two-way eligible, so the Wolves may re-shuffle their two-way spots to sign him. Nevertheless, Juzang has one of the most important NBA skills, and that should earn him some sort of roster spot.